Disability / Health Concern
Our 'Disability / Health Concern' category of stories explores the challenges voters with disabilities and health-related concerns face when casting their votes. These interviews are a testament to the resilience and determination of individuals striving for equal participation in the electoral process.
It's a surprising fact to most of us that approximately 1 in 6 Americans experience disability. How that affects their voting process can be very profound. We examine the obstacles they might face when exercising their right to vote privately and independently. Included are stories that explore the complexities of voting from congregate settings, such as nursing homes, state hospitals, and developmental centers.
We address voting with an emergency ballot if one is hospitalized right before an election as well as a wide spectrum of disability-related voting issues. Each interview highlights the deep commitment of these voters to strengthening an inclusive and accessible democracy for all.
Steven McCoy
Steven McCoy was reluctant to vote as his vision and hearing impairment progressed. He didn't want poll workers to draw attention to his disability or have someone looking over his shoulder as he voted. Steven will not let his disability stand between him and the ballot box any longer now that he knows his rights and options for voting.
Accessible Ballot Marking Devices and the Assistant of Your Choice
There are situations when people with disabilities appreciate a little assistance, as well as circumstances when they would prefer to decline assistance. A key factor is that the person with a disability should have agency in this decision. How do differently abled voters navigate getting some type of help while safeguarding their right to not have anyone know for whom they voted?
Can you vote with a secret ballot if you need assistance? Yes, you are eligible to keep your vote private using the assistant of your choice and an accessible ballot marking device if you have a disability.
Meet Steven McCoy: A Deaf-Blind Voting Champion
Steven McCoy is a charismatic media entrepreneur who founded Spoken Entertainment and the podcast Sessions with Steven. His unprecedented and pioneering work has been recognized and celebrated by many, including his congressman who awarded Steven with a Challenge Coin designating Steven as the World's First Deaf-Blind Black Journalist. Steven recently founded the non-profit Spoken Heroes to spread his inspiring message of resilience and optimism.
Steven McCoy joins U.S. Vote Foundation (US Vote) for a heartfelt conversation which is also available on video. In our discussion, Steven explains his previous reluctance to vote and we discuss accessible options he could use to cast his ballot. Steven examines the US Vote Foundation Resource for Voters with Disabilities and selects his top three takeaways from the guide.
US.VOTE
Would you like to start by telling us a little bit about your background and how you came to be someone who had a concern about voting to an actual US Vote Voting Champion?
Steven McCoy
Yes, definitely. I have Usher Syndrome, a retinal eye disease that causes blindness and hearing loss. Throughout the years, in the household that I grew up in, everyone was very adamant about voicing your vote. That was always very important to me. As time went by, it got a little bit harder because my vision started to decrease. My hearing started to decrease. And when going to the voting polls, it became a lot harder.
People who were working the polls didn’t necessarily know how to - I don’t think they were properly trained on how to handle accessible voting. Even just yelling out loud: This guy, he can’t see! You know, those sorts of things. In those moments when you’re voting, there’s already so many emotions behind voicing your vote. But you also just want to remain very low key and very private when going to the polls. It just became a bit difficult.
Last year, it was time for me to vote. This was the first time ever that I skipped out on voting due to that experience of them not knowing how to handle me not feeling comfortable enough and me feeling that I might have been an inconvenience to others that were working the polls. So I said last year I’m not going to - I’m going to skip out on the vote - and I felt terrible about it. Terrible.
I tried to ignore it. And I realized that it’s a mistake. Or I should say that was a decision I made that I would not be able to take back. So that’s why I’m really glad to be here today to be able to say, you know what - no more! There are so many different opportunities for us to be able to vote. So many different avenues. I had no idea.
Learning here from you all of the resources that are available for those that have a disability - I’m really glad to be here and be able to have the opportunity. Moving forward, I know that I’ll always be able to vote. Hopefully this will inspire other people to also get to those polls and amplify their voices.
US.VOTE
Yes, and I think Steven, you can really relate to people with disabilities who aren’t voting. Six percent is the gap between people with disabilities and people without in terms of their turnout to vote. We want to close that gap at US Vote working with you. I know you never want to be in that situation again. You can relate to that six percent gap of people who aren’t voting because you just weren’t sure.
One of things that I really love that you brought out just now is, first of all, that every person should know that they have the right to private and independent vote. No one is supposed to know who you voted for. US Vote can help you connect with resources to make sure you can exercise that right.
I think also one of the things that I really connected to that you said is that you might want assistance when you get to the polls - but even more likely you may not want assistance - knowing that you have the right to refuse assistance from somebody else. And sometimes the assistance that a person might need is just access to information that you can get through US Vote.
Steven McCoy
Yeah, absolutely.
US.VOTE
If you were to go on our US Vote Foundation website, we have a resource guide for voters with disabilities. It’s state by state. Every single state is covered. It addresses a lot of questions that people might have about the polls.
For example, if you were going to vote in New Jersey where you’re from, what would be your likely method? Would you want to vote in person or by absentee ballot?
Steven McCoy
I would say in person. That’s the way that I’ve always done it. I want to continue to do that. But then, you know, things change and I often think about safety with the people that are working the polls. Once again, I’m just not sure if they’re fully trained. I have friends that are mobility challenged and have wheelchairs. They are feeling absolutely unsafe to get to the polls and not sure if people would give them the proper treatment. They, too, have skipped out on voting.
So, yes, I think I’m kind of torn between the two. But I’m open to both. Just as long as my vote counts.
US.VOTE
Right.
Steven McCoy
I still like the feeling of going out to vote. But then it obviously scares me enough where I skipped out on it. With these resources, I know I’ll be able to most certainly take advantage of and allow a smoother process and a more safe process.
I didn’t like the fact that there was somebody that was standing there while I was voting. And also pointing to the candidate. It made me feel that they were kind of telling me who to vote for as well.
That’s why I love that US Vote will be able to help us exercise the right to keep that privacy.
US.VOTE
All the poll workers are trained on the equipment, which is great to know. I think that a lot of people don’t know that. But, you know, sometimes a person might forget their training.
Or you get there and - first of all - if you’re mobility challenged, just navigating getting into the building. Right? Or if you’re visually impaired, also navigating through the maze to the vote. And let’s say you get there and that machine is still in the box. And you’re like ugh!
Steven McCoy
Right.
US.VOTE
That's really frustrating.
Steven McCoy
Yeah, yeah.
US.VOTE
One of things we can show you through the US Vote Resource for Voters with Disabilities is how to practice using the machine before you go. So for instance, in New Jersey, there are two different companies they use that make these touch screens. You can change the font.
Steven McCoy
Wow!
US.VOTE
Yeah, you can change the contrast. There are even keys that have Braille on them. And you can plug in and have a screen reader with headphones which I think is critically important.
Steven McCoy
Oh, great, yeah!
US.VOTE
So it’s not reading out: “You just selected…”
Steven McCoy
[laughter] We don’t want that!
US.VOTE
[laughter]
Steven McCoy
We sometimes use our audio devices on our phones. It might give away your privacy and your right to keep your vote private. So, ok, I love that! I love that we would have the opportunity to also have on headphones if need be. So that’s great.
Voters with print disabilities could benefit from creating a Voter Account at US Vote Foundation. Voter Accounts securely store the information you provide to assist you in generating voting forms such as voter registration or absentee ballot requests. You can also sign up to get reminders of election dates and deadlines.
Featured Voting Resources
- My state's guide for voters with disabilities
- Create my Voter Account
- Look up my sample ballot
- Check my options for returning my ballot
- Find my polling place
- Contact my voting official's office
- Get help from the National Disability Rights Network, a US Vote Partner
- Register to vote
- Check to see if I'm registered to vote
- Request my absentee ballot
